Published Papers - Abstract 577

Recent research has revealed that complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) is particularly popular amongst rural populations, with a growing body of literature supporting this interpretation. Nevertheless, despite long-standing calls for further research in this area very little is known about how, when and why primary health care (PHC) patients utilise CIM and even less is known about the grass-roots interface between CIM and conventional primary health care in the context of rural health care. This chapter draws upon existing literature and an emerging programme of research to examine and understand these features of rural health care delivery and consumption.